Removable covers for railroad cars



April 4, 1961 A. J. FARRAR 77,900

REMOVABLE COVERS FOR RAILROAD CARS Filed 00tl, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR. AL 1///\/ J 5%664/9 April 4, 1961 A. J. FARRAR 2,977,900

REMOVABLE COVERS FOR RAILROAD CARS Filed 001;. 1, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. i, 4; V/A/JT FAR/6A April 4, 1961 A. J. FARRAR REMOVABLE COVERS FOR RAILROAD CARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct- 1., 1956 INVENTOR. AL l/M/ JT/ZMM ATTOKA/EV April 4, 1961 A. J. FARRAR REMOVABLE COVERS FOR RAILROAD CARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 1, 1956 INVENTOR. 4; v/MJ 5922/? BY ATTOKNEV struction.

United States Patent 9 This invention relatesto a cover for. material carried in gondola cars, and more particularlyto'a light-. weight, easily removable railroad gondola-car cover. :Materials .carried in gondolacars, par ticularlylsteel pieces, aresusceptible tofdamage or deteriorationlduring transit; Gondola carshaye an open .top which is not provided ,with a ,cover or other means" for protecting.

car cover made up of corrugated sheets welded together 7 2,977,900 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 p 1 ce 1 2 In general this invention provides a light-weight gondola without internal framing save for a channel strip at its lower edge.

so that it may be stacked in nested position for storage. Referring specifically tothe drawings, Fig. 1 shows a 1 cover 10 suspended over a gondola car 11 on tongs 12 which engage a hook 13 on the cover-10. The tongs, are suspended from a suitable;crane (not shown) by ropes 14. The gondola car 11 contains steel coils 15 I carried in a skid 16. The cover 10 is in position to be 13, a vent 19, and the ladder rungs 20. The sides and.

lowered over the coils 15 and seat on the skid 16.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cover 10 is made up ofa box 17 on which are mounted tiering brackets 18, the hook roof of thebox 17, which may be defined as constituting goods carried within the 'car.. 1 A cover for the goods during transit .must be easily handled. and of sturdy construction. It must be independent of the gondola car'so as to be fully interchangeable between various carsand various types of cars. .It will thus be seenlthat a coven for use on a gondola car... isqne'c'essarily of a. diiferent nature than'an ordinary cover ortop which is nio'tint'eci on. an s an -receptacle..a nd.,removable. therefrom;

It is an object of thisinvention to providelra'coverfor. railroad gondola. cars which.may beof ligh' tqweight, easily removed and replaced, and interchangeable between. cars. 1 p j i ,It is a further object of this invention, toprovide 'a. gondola car. cover made .up of sheets of ste'elof 'single thickness .welded together to make .a light-weight con 1 Still another objectof this invention is a light-weight construction for a gondolacar cover which eliminates the necessity for heavy. framing or bracingwithiri the cover, so that the" cover iscomposedof single-thickness. sheets of light weight, welded together to form drugged construction. I

Astill further-object of this invention is the. provision of. a gondola car cover which is ventilated to avoid con-Q densat ion within thecoverp j Still anothe r'object of this invention is a lightweight gondola 'carfbover which may be stacked inpiles fon economy of space. i i

These and other. objects. .ofthisfinvent'ion will become more. apparent-upon consideration or the following de: scription taken together with the. accompanying drawings, inrwhichz i l Fig.1 l. is a perspective .view 1 of a gondola car coverof. this invention suspended above .a gondola .car "which con... tains coiled strips of steel; ,Fig. 2 is a side elevation,partly gondola. car cover of this invention;

' broken aw a rEig. .3. a section of a portion of the gohdola cover of Fig. 2, taken'on line 3 3 of Fig. in the direc-T tion of thearrows} Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portion of the lower: edge of the. gondola car cover ofFig. 2, taken on line 4-4 of-Eigi' 2. in the direction of thearrows; 'Y Q 'Fig. Sfis a horizontal section of'a corner ofthe gondola car cover 'of Fig.2, taken'on'line,5-5 of Fig. 2 in the direction of'thearrows; I p

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionof the gondola car cover -of iFig. 2 in a gOndola' car;

Fig.7 is a side .elevalion of. a modified gondolacar cover of this invention; and j j p Fig. 8 is an end view of thecover of Fig; 7.

the shell or main shell of the box, are made up of a plurality of corrugated shell sheets 21 which are welded together to form the hollow shell structure of the box 17.

At each end of the box 17 there is an offset formed by; a notch cut into the respective shell sheets 21 which are adjacent the ends, to receive a-horizontal strip as explained in greater detail below. i

A-channel runner 28, which constitutes a'stiffening'. frame member, extends longitudinally along the lower.

3 edgeof the shell sheets 21 on each side of the box 17;

As seen in Fig. 6 shell sheets 21 each form halfof-the longitudinal structure (half of the transverse section) of. the box 17. Each individual shell sheet 21 has a vertical face, an oblique face and a crown. The longitudinal.

.. edgesof the mating crowns are butt welded at D to form a box section which has an arch-like cross section as shown in Fig. 6, Le. having a roof or top portion that includes sloping sides constituted by the oblique faces of the shell sheets 21. The butt weld is covered by a' splice plate 32 on the upper surface of the crown.

. The shell sheets 21- are welded together to form welds 24 along their lateral edges to form the mainshell of the box 17. .As shown in Fig. 2 this box. shell portion is made up of three central sections of sheets 21 and two sections of sheets 21 respectively adjacent the ends. As

. 21 along a later-a1 edge.

shown in Fig. 6, each section'is made up of.-two shell sheets 21 joined together along their respective. longitudinal edges. The five sections are joined together by four welds 24 as seen in Fig. 2. a

- Each of the central :sheets 21 has its lateral edges formed in a double-rolled flange 25. One edge-of each.

ofthe end-adjoining sheets 21 is formed in a double rolled flange 25. 'As shown in Fig. 3, each double-rolled flange 25 is formed by three bends in the respective sheet- These three bends form a perpendicular leg of the flange which-has .a double. layer as.

the" result of folding part of the sheet back onitself. Thus each flange 25 has an inner layer 26 and anouter layer 27. Proceeding laterally outward -of .t he sheet2l the three bends are a 90 'bend raising the peripheral leg of the flange, a 180"- bend forming the double-layer in structure.

the peripheral leg and the bend forming the double layer .in the main leg. This integral flangeis rigidified: structurally by the double layers 26and 27. 'Inother words, the edge portion of the sheet is folded back along itself to form a folded, double-thickness portion, having the layers 26, 27, and the double-thickness portion is."

bent outward at a right angle to form the flange proper (25), i.e. the peripheral or perpendicular leg of the flange Thus the flange 25 is formed in a folded or' doubled portion of the sheet. In the box 17 the sheets 21 are positioned together so that surfaces of the inner layers 26 of the respective abutting flanges 25 face each p other. Abutting .flanges 25 are welded togetherybythe The cover is provided with means for venti-. lation and is constructed with offset portions and brackets weld 24, as at A and B as shown in Fig. 3, in a single T-beam structure. The joint flanges 25 in the T-beam at each weld 24 are integral with their respective sheets 21 and cooperating with corrugations 29 insheets 21 provide the shell of the box 17 with a structural rigidity.

A stiffening member comprising a channel runner 28' is mounted on the lower edge of the sheets 21 along each side of the box 17. As shown in Fig. 4 the sheets 21 seat on the web of the channel runner 28. The flanges 25 and the corrugations 29 are positioned laterally of the runner 28. The flange 25 shown in Fig. 4 extends across the full width of the runner 28 and the corrugation 29 shown extends partially across the width of the runner 28. The channel runners 28 running lengthwise on each side of the box 17 provide the box with longitudinal stiffness.

At each end, the box 17 is provided witha corrugated end sheet 23. As shown in Fig. the end sheet 23 is welded, along or near each side edges, to its adjacent shell sheet 21. The adjacent shell sheet 21 is provided with an end flange 31 which overlaps the lateral edge of the end sheet 23 and is welded to the end sheet 23. The corrugations 29 in the end sheets 23 extend horizontally as distinguished from the vertical orientation of the corrugations 29 in the shell sheets 21. The respective end sheets 23 do not extend for the full height of the box 17 but terminate at a notch at the adjoining side shell sheet 21. The upper portion of each end of the box 17 is formed to provide an offset of the vertical end surfaces of the box 17. The upper portion of each end of the box 17 is formed at the end by a riser 30. The notch in the end-adjacent shell sheet 21 receives a platform 22. The riser 30 is offset from the respective end sheet 23 by the width of the platform 22 and the platform 22 together with the riser 30 defines the offset at its respective end. Each of the risers 30 is provided with a hood 19 which covers an orifice 33 near the crown of the box 17.

A tiering bracket 18 is mounted at the offset at each of the respective ends of the box 17 as shown in Fig. 2. This bracket 18 is made up of a channel 46 and a strip 34 formed to join the channel 46 with the riser 30 and provide a horizontal surface 35. The channel 46; is welded to the end sheet 23. Thehorizontal surface 35, facing upward in the offset between the end sheet 23 and theriser 30, is in a position to receive from above the lower edge of a complementary box 17' which may be inserted into the offset.

The tiering brackets 18 aremounted around the shell 17 on a common level; One of the tiering brackets '18 is mounted at each end of the box 17. As seen in Fig. 2, the end brackets 18 are mounted on their respective ends at the offset. As described above, two of the tiering brackets 18 are mounted on each side of the box 17. The side tiering brackets are mounted at the corner formed by the break between the vertical faces" and the oblique faces of the shell sheets 21 indicated at C in Fig. 2. This corner C is approximately on a level with the. platform 22, and a short distance below the surface 35 of the strip 34 in the end brackets 18.

Referring to Fig. 6, the side tiering brackets 18 are shown mounted on shell sheets 21. The side tiering brackets 18 are each composed of a channel 48 anda strip 36 shaped to join the channel 48 to the shell sheet 21. The oblique-surfaces of the shell sheets 21 form a Y-shaped structure with the channels 48. The strips 36 are positioned in the crotch of the Y-shaped and provide an upper surface 37 which is on the same level as the surfaces 35. The surfaces 35. and 37 present. a plurality of level surfaces for the reception of a complement tary box 17. The tapered shape of the box 17 permits interposition of the boxes 17. Thus there is provided means for nesting the covers in this form of the invention.

As mentioned above, each of the end walls 23- carries 4 s a hood 19 which covers an aperture 33 in the end wall. At each end, the aperture 33, through a passage 38 formed between the respective hood 19 and the riser 30, provides venting means from the interior of the cover 10 when it is in place over steel goods in a gondola car.

As shown in Fig. 6, thecoils are seated on a skid 16 positioned in a, gondola car 11. The assembly of the skid 16 is made'up of a cradle 39 and rails 40. The lower rails'40 seat on the bottom of the gondola car 11, and thecover 10 seats on the upper rails 40. Thus the cover 10 cooperates with and is positioned on the skid 16.

A modification of this invention is shown in Fig. 7. A cover 10 of this'modification has'shell sheets 21 and end sheets 47. In the modificationshown in Fig. 7 the stacking of the covers is accommodated by a set of lugs 41 mounted on the upper surface of the cover 10. The cover 10 of Fig. 7 is made up of shell sheets 21 welded together in the manner of the shell sheets 21 of the embodiment described in connection with-Fig. 2. On the upper surface of three sections of these shell sheets 21 there is'provided a pair of lugs 41 which extend upright from the surface of the sheets 21. The lugs 41 are made up of a strip which is bent to provide an indented upper portion having a wide angle. In stacking the covers 10 of this modification the lower edge of a stacked cover is seated in this wide angle of the upper portion of the lugs 41.

Another modification of the cover, as shown in Figs. 7' and 8, is a vent 42 mounted on the end sheet 47 of the cover 10. In this modification the end sheet 47 extends for the full height of the cover 10. Accordingly the vent 42 extending downwardly of the end sheet forms a longer passage 43. g V I The hook 13 and the hook 44 of the forms shown in Figs. 1through6, and Figs. 7 and 8, respectively, are centrally mounted on the. box 17 so that the weight of the box is evenly distributed around the hooks. In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the book 44 extends through the'uppersurface of the shell sheets 21 and engages the cover 10 from within. A pair of channel members 45 are provided within the cover 10 against which the hook 44 seats. V I

The combination of the stiff corrugated or ribbed nature of the shell sheets or plates 21 with the beam formed by weldingthe adjacent flanges 25 of contiguous edges of the shell plates 21, provides the box of the cover of this invention with structural rigidity.' This structural rigidity eliminates the need for heavy framing, cross bracing or strutting, or other interior reinforcement the box 17.- Longitudinal rigidity is provided by the side channel runners which join together the side sheets or plates along their lower edges. These structural features, together with the welding of' the side or shell plates to the end sheets or plates, provide thecover of this invention with a combined lightness and sturdiness.

The joint between the shell sheets 21, formed by the weld of the flanges 25 together, is stronger than would be a splicing beam welded to the lateral edges of the sheets 21 at the same point.

Thus-by double-rolling the lateral edges of the sheets or plates 21 into a two-layer flange 25', this invention provides the means for'making a structurally strong box which is also lighter in weight and simpler of construction.

Another advantage of this invention is the means of stackingl'provided by. the offsets at the ends, the tapered box'shell and the tiering brackets and lugs. .A further advantage is. provided in the vents at each end, which reduce or eliminate'the problem of condensation within the cover from various'causes, such as covering a heated coil, or changes in climatic conditions during transit.

The above-described embodiments are set forth for the purpose of illustration of the. invention. Although the invention has been describedby making a fully-detailed reference to these certain presently preferred embodiments such detail of description is to be understood in an instructive rather than a limiting sense, many changes being possible within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is:

1. A removable cover for objects in an open railroad car comprising a shell having side walls and a roof structure, said shell being formed of a plurality of corrugated metal sheets having mutually adjacent vertical edges, said sheets being joined edgewise, each sheet being folded double along a region adjacent its edge to provide a double-layer portion and having a flange bent at a right angle to the sheet in thedouble-layer portion, said flange being constituted by the outer part of the double-layer portion, and the inner part of said double-layer portion remaining coplanar with the remainder of the sheet, said flanges being joined by welding to constitute a joint along adjacent edges of the sheets, the joined flanges having faces abutted in mutually coextensive relation, with their respective sheets coplanar, and each flange being disposed on the same side of its sheet as the outward layer which is provided against the body of the sheet by the aforesaid fold, so that the mutually abutted flange faces are the inward layers which extend directly from the respective sheet bodies, and said welding of the flanges being effected adjacent both longitudinal boundaries of the abutted flange faces.

'2. A removable cover for objects in an open railroad car comprising a shell having side walls and a roof structure, said shell being formed of a plurality of corrugated metal sheets having corrugations extending continuously vertically of the sides and transversely of the roof, said sheets being joined edgewise, each sheet being folded double along a region adjacent its edge to provide a double-layer portion and having a flange bent at a right angle to the sheet in the double-layer portion, said flange being constituted by the outer part of the double-layer portion, and the inner part of said double-layer portion remaining coplanar with the remainder of the sheet, said flanges being joined by welding to constitute a joint along adjacent edges of the sheets, the joined flanges having faces abutted in mutually coextensive relation,

with their respective sheets coplanar, and each flange being disposed on the same side of its sheet as the outward layer which is provided against the body of the sheet by the aforesaid fold, so that the mutually abutted flange faces are the inward layers which extend directly from the respective sheet bodies, and said welding of the flanges being effected adjacent both longitudinal boundaries of the abutted flange faces.

3. A cover as defined in claim 2 wherein the cover includes stiffening frame members respectively disposed along the bottom edges of the side walls, the corrugated metal sheets which constitute said side walls being mounted to said frame members, and wherein each frame member comprisesan upwardly opening channel member in which the lowermost portions of the metal sheets,'inc1uding lowermost portions of their corrugations and flanges, are seated.

4. A removable cover for objects in an open railroad car, comprising a shell having side walls and a roof structure, said shell being formed of a plurality of corrugated metal sheets having corrugations extending continuously vertically of the sides and transversely of the roof, each of said sheets being folded double along a region adjacent its edge so that there is a layer folded back against the main body of the sheet on the outside of the shell to provide a double-layer portion along the edge of the sheet, each sheet having a flange bent outwardly of the shell at a right angle to the sheet in the double-layer portion, providing a double thickness flange and a corresponding double thickness region adjacent thereto in the sheet, said flanges of adjacent sheets having their endwise-facing surfaces abutted and joined by welding to constitute a joint along adjacent edges of the sheets, and a pair of stiffening members respectively disposed along and secured to the bottom edges of the side walls of the shell in engagement with the lowermost portions of the corrugated sheets, the joined flanges having their endwisefacing surfaces abutted in mutually coextensive relation, with their respective sheets coplanar, so that the mutually abutted flange surfaces are surfaces of the inward layers which extend directly from the respective sheet bodies, and said welding of the flanges being effected adjacent both longitudinal boundaries of the abutted flange surfaces.

5. A removable cover as defined in claim 4, which includes end walls formed of metal sheets, said metal sheets including vertical sheet portions having horizontally extending corrugations, said end wall sheets being secured at their edges to the end edges of the side wall sheets to constitute an enclosure which is rectangular in plan, and each of said end walls having a vent opening therein at an upper region thereof, and hood means covering said vent openings.

6. In a stiffened sheet metal structure, a pair of single thickness metal sheets arranged for connection along mutually adjacent edges, each sheet being folded double along a region adjacent its edge to provide a doublelayer portion andhaving a flange bent at a right angle to the sheet in the double-layer portion, said flange being constituted by the outer part of the double-layer portion, and the inner part of said double-layer portion remaining coplanar with the remainder of the sheet, said flanges of the aforesaid pair of sheets being disposed with their endwise-facing surfaces in mutual abutment, and said abutting surfaces of the flanges being joined by welding to constitute a joint along adjacent edges of the sheets, the joined flanges having their endwise-facing surfaces abutted in mutually coextensive relation, with their respective sheets coplanar, and each flange being disposed on the same side of its sheet as the outward layer which is provided against the body of the sheet by the aforesaid fold, so that the mutually abutted flange surfaces are surfaces of the inward layers which extend directly from the respective sheet bodies, and said welding of the flanges being ellected adjacent both longitudinal boundaries of the abutted flange surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 740,838 Flatau Oct. 6, 1903 1,133,495 Murphy Mar. 30, 1915 1,258,314 Bruce Mar. 5, 1918 1,258,576 Kahn Mar. 5, 1918 1,322,310 Kring Nov. 18, 1919 1,357,119 Royster Oct. 26, 1920 1,922,605 Spear Aug. 15, 1933 2,132,328 Tatum Oct. 4, 1938 2,227,990 Zelt Jan. 7, 1941 2,235,663 Bachmann Mar. 18, 1941 2,431,533 Baillie Nov. 25, 1947 2,457,841 Smith et al. Jan. 4, 1949 2,563,827 Ertner Aug. 14, 1951 2,733,112 Dunham Ian. 31, 1956 2,817,304 Newcomer et a1. Dec. 24, 1957 

